Book: Strange Familiars by Keshe Chow
Reviewed by Weird | weird.reads.books
Rating: 3.5/5
I went into this book expecting a standalone cozy fantasy, but instead, I found the first half of a compelling academic rivals-to-lovers duology. Strange Familiars reminded me why I love stories with an established history between leads. It solves that common rivals-to-lovers pain point where characters fall for each other too quickly. Because Gwen and Harrisford have years of friction behind them, the world feels lived-in rather than like another cookie-cutter academic romantasy.
The unique twist here is the focus on magical veterinary medicine. The author’s own background in veterinary school shines through, bringing a sense of authenticity to the care of magical creatures.
Our rivals, Gwen and Harrisford, are battling for the top spot in their graduating class. Gwen is a hardworking student from a struggling immigrant family who needs the top ranking to secure a high-paying job. Harrisford comes from wealth and privilege, carrying the immense pressure of his family’s expectations. Their mutual loathing feels believable and realistic. When a mystery involving the magical world forces them to work together, their chemistry finally begins to unfurl. There is some spice toward the end, and because of the slow-burn tension, it feels genuinely rewarding.
There are parts that I absolutely loved, like the bonding with animal familiars and the character diversity. Chow touches on micro-aggressive racial biases a person faces just because of their race/heritage. Percy, the cat familiar, stole the show. His snarky commentary felt exactly like what a cat would say if they could speak. His habits and Gwen’s feeling towards him, like the utter betrayal of your cat warming up to someone else, felt like a love letter to cat owners.
There were portions that felt as if they could use some altering. The characters, at times, read as if they were younger than those in their mid-twenties. There’s a masquerade at one point, hitting a new cliche in the dark academia realm that felt out of place. The twists felt predictable and had me wishing for more depth to the story.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this read and will definitely be picking up the sequel to see how this duology ends
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC. All opinions are my own.